JD 350C

[vapet]

What do you think? Deere 350C 6k hours, new undercarriage except idlers, 4in1. The bad, water getting in engine oil. $6,000.
 

[Stick welding]

What kind of work do you want to do with a track loader? It's really hard to say what kind of shape a machine is in when you can't try it out and anything with tracks can be a money pit.
 

[vapet]

Wanting loader to clear some more land and just general use. Major trouble is hard to justify very much outlay for limited use, so look for something cheap and that opens up worn out machines. Agree fully that a non runner should be looked at closely.
 

[tjdub]

The trouble with "water in the oil" is it could mean something as simple as a head gasket, but it might mean the block is pitted so bad it's junk. Also, if the seller has been running it with antifreeze in the oil, the bearing have been taking a beating.

I would keep looking.
 

[Stick welding]

Maybe a skid steer would be better for you?
 

[LJD]

It is was an older 350, water in the oil wouldn't worry me. A 350C has three seals per sleeve and it's rare to leak coolant into the oil.

$6000 is not cheap and I'd want to know what's wrong with it - or get the price lowered to $4000.

I'd be more worried about the transmission case and reverser case (where they join). Look for any signs of movement there and/or loose bolts/nuts. There are two nuts on top and two bolts on the bottom. A major weak point on Cs and often - no cost effective way to fix. I've seen many go to the scrap-yard when it happens. It's been loose -it breaks side-frames where they bolt to the clutch housing and ruins the output shaft in the reverser and the input shaft in the transmission. I just passed one up with a 6-way blade that was selling for $2500.
 

[LJD]

Keep your eyes open and you can find a Deere 1010 or early 350 crawler loader for $3000-$3500. They go cheaper then dozers. I just looked at a nice running Deere 350B crawler-loader last week that sold for $3200.

I've had a 1960, Deere 1010 crawler loader for years and its been a great machine.

One thing to consider though. A machine like a Deere with a hydraulic reverser - can be extremely expensive to fix if that reverser fails. Deere has also discontinued many parts for all the 350 series.

If you don't need the convenience of a good reverser - you might look for simpler crawler-loader with all gear-drive. Like an Allis Chalmers HD5? Oliver OC4? Great simple machines BUT the ACs have hand clutches.
 

[Dr. Walt]

Ever consider a CAT 941 Traxcavator with a 4-way bucket? I operated one back in the late 1970's when I worked for the County Road Dept. ; great little machine,you get both bucket & blade and mine also had rippers on back, - though pedal steer takes some getting used to .